Double-digit relay selector system



Feb. 13, 1962 R. L. swARTz 3,021,509

DOUBLE-DIGIT RELAY SELECTOR SYSTEM Filed Dec. 24, 1958 LC (1 E 1.1

Richard L. Swarfz.

I ATTORNEY INVENTOR United States Patent r 3,021,509 DOUBLE-DIGIT RELAY SELECTOR SYSTEM Richard L. Swartz, Columbia, S.C., assignor to Universal Business Machines, Inc., Columbia, S.C., a corporation of South Carolina Filed Dec. 24, 1958, Ser.'No. 782,846

10 Claims. (Cl. 340-166) This invention relates to a double-digit selector system and more particularlyto a system for selecting an individual item from a large number of such items available at aremote location from a keyboard having relatively few keys. a M

This invention, while not so limited, may have special adaptability in a check sorting machine of the type disclosed in US. Patent 2,707,569 in which a stack of checks or other documents is provided on a vertically movable platform, and the topmost check is removed by a feeding device which transfers it to a conveying guideway past a number of tilta-ble gates arranged at spaced stations. Each gate normally covers a storage bin opening and is selectively opened by energization of asolenoid controlled by an individual key on a keyboard. When a gate, whichis in the path of a movable check. or document is thus opened, the latter is deflected downwardly and. falls into a storage bin. In order to utilize the number of storage bins and gates withfewer: control keys or-to'increase the number of bins and gates without correspondingly increasing the;numlber of keys, applicant has pro vided a circuit in which the number of gates capable of n being individually selected is equal to the number of keys raised to the power of two. i

Each key is designated with a different symbol such as a numeral or letter, each solenoid corresponding to a combination of two symbols. The circuit is so designed that operation of a selected keytwice or operation of two keys will energize the particular solenoid for openingthe selected gate.

The circuit further includes the feature of automatically .de-energizing the selected'gate solenoid after a predetermined'time delay and restoring the circuit to a condition to again make aselection of a gate solenoid upon further operating the selector keys on the keyboard. After a selection has been made, it may be cancelled manually at any time during the delay period before the automatic cancellation circuit has taken effect. The delay time for automatically setting into operation the circuit for cancelling the selected gate solenoid is especially useful for allowing the conveyor sutficient time to move the check or documentinto the selected storage bin and thus timing is initiated when the feeding device of the above patent is energized or when a clutch is tripped to move a mechani- 'cally operated feeding device in the form of ,a suction.

head, as disclosed in my copending application Serial No.

686,745, filed September 27, 1957 now patent No. 2,984,481. 1'

An object of the. present invention is the provision'of asystem for individually selecting or energizing an item ordevice from a large number of such items ordevices -at a location remote from a keyboard having relatively few keys. g g, g

- A further objectof the invention is to provide a circuit for energizing one solenoid or device of a plurality {by the operation of two keys of a number less than the plurality of solenoids or devices.

A still further object of the invention is to provide automatic cancellation of the above selection after a delay period so that the circuit is effective to make another selection when again energized. t

Another object of the invention is the provision of a relay system. to select a desireddevice of a plurality for energization by a double-digit code operation andwhich is positive in operation and where the chance for error in operation is minimized. j

The circuit shown in the figure of the drawing is a preferred arrangement for carrying out my invention.

, While most of the contacts operated by the various relay coils are shown in close position to the corresponding coils, some of the contacts are displaced from the operating coils and the operating connections between the relay armature and these. displaced contacts are represented by dotted line connections- The contacts, are

shown in the positions they assume when all of their 0pcrating relay coils are in the deenergized state.

In the'selector system represented in the drawing, ten push-buttons or keys are employed to select-any one of vfifty devices or items. These keys may be of the type shown in FIG. 7 of the above-mentioned Patent 2,707,569,

but they are represented by the push-button switches numbered 0 m 9 in theaccompanying drawing. The devices to be selected or energized are designated by the letter M, and, in the case of a sorting machine of the type disclosed in Patent 2,707,569, these devices would correspond to arranged in ten horizontal rows of five-devices each. Each .horizontal row may be referred to Lasa group or block of devices.

One terminal of each device -M is connected to a supply line-La. The other terminal of each device M is connected through an individual switch to a conductor which is common to allofthe devices in a-vertical column. For example, the 00 magnet isconnected' through switch 21 to conductor Ca which'is common to allofthe magnets inthe first vertical column. In a like manner, the magnets in the second vertical column are connected through switches 22 to a common conductor Cb, the magnets in the third column are connected through switches 23, to

common conductorCc, those-in .thetourth column. are

l Thevarious relays are energizedfrom supply linesLc hand Ld ,which may be; the usual volt A.C.;sup ply cir-v cuit. isfshown'in the drawingppush button switches connected through switches24 to common conductor Cd,

and those-in the fifth column are connected through switches 13, to common conductorCe. The five conductors Ca to Ca areconnected: through switches Zlonfive digit relays0D 2 DR,: 4DR-, 6-DR- and S DR respectively to the return supply line Lb. 1 \All of themdividual switches in each block of devicesM; are,,cor1- trolled by aucommon block. relay. For :example, the

' switches 21; 22, 2'3, 24 and 13 controlling the top hori-- zontal row of devices M are all operated by the block relay 043R. .In a like manner, the individual switches for the remaining blocks of devices M are. controlled by.

block relays designated 1B-R to 9-BR respectively. 1

and 9 are arranged to control the energizing circuits for block relays O-BR to S-BR each including a normally closed contact of transfer relay 2ASR (see contacts 11a, 12, 13a, 14, 15a, 21, 22a, 23 and 24a of 2ASR), and the energizing circuit of relay 9-BR including a normally open contact 21 of relay l-ASR. Each block relay completes its own holding circuit through its contact 11 to a common return conductor Cf which is connected to line Lc through contact 11 of relay CLR and contact 12 of relay RJR.

In the energized position of transfer relay 2ASR push-button switches 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 control the energizing circuits for digit relays tl-DR to 8DR, respectively, through contacts 11b, 13b, 15b, 22b and 24b of relay 2ASR. Each digit relay is provided with a contact 11 which closes a self-holding circuit to return conductor Cf.

Transfer relay 2ASR, and relay l-ASR, are controlled by relay AR which has an energizing circuit extending from line Lc through normally closed contact 12 of relay CLR, to conductor E which is connected to one side of each switch 12 on the block relays, through one of these switches to conductor F, and through normally closed contacts 22 on the digit relays connected in series to conductor G which is connected to one terminal of relay AR, the other terminal being connected to supply line Ld. The energizing circuit for relay 1-ASR is normally completed through a normally closed switch ASRK and through normally closed contact 11a of relay AR. A holding circuit for relay 1-ASR is completed through the normally closed contact 25 of relay 2ASR. The energizing circuit for relay 2ASR is completed through normally closed switch ASRK and through normally open contact 11b of relay AR when this relay is energized. A holding circuit for relay 2*ASR is completed through the normally closed contact 11 of relay 1-ASR.

The switch ASRK is biased to closed position and is connected to each of the control keys by a common connection, such as a bar associated with all of the keys and represented by the dotted line connection K, in such a manner that depression of any control key will open the contacts ASRK during the initial movement of the key and before the closing of the control switch associated with the key; Thus, pressing control button 3 first opens switch ASRK and then closes the push-button switch in the circuit of block relay 3-BR. Release of button 3 first opens the control switch of relay S-BR and then closes switch ASRK.

After a desired device has been selected by operation of one block relay and one digit relay, the feed control or solenoid FCS should be energized to etiect operation of the feed control device through one cycle. The energizing circuit for FCS extends from supply line Lc through contact 12 of clearing relay CLR to conductor E through one switch 12 of the operated block relay to conductor F, through the switch 12 of the operated digit relay to conductor H, through normally closed contact 11a of reject relay RJR, through normally closed contact 11 of feed control relay FCR to magnet FCS and then to supply line Ld. The magnet PCS is energized only momentarily, because relay FCR is energized from the same circuit that energizes magnet FCS, and operation of FCR opens the circuit of FCS at contact 11 of FCR.

A cancel relay CR is normally energized froma source of direct current DC. through normally closed contacts 21 and 22 of relay FCR. A variable resistance R and a condenser C are connected in series across the Winding of relay CR to delay the operation of this relay with respect to relay L-SHR when the machine is first turned on. A short circuit around the condenser is provided by normally open contact 11 on relay 1-SHR.

The energizing circuit for relay l-SHR extends from line Lc through normally closed contact 11 of relay CR, through normally open contact 21 of relay Z-SHR and through normally closed contact 21 of relay CLR. The

energizing circuit for relay CLR is completed through normally closed contacts 11 of relay CR and through normally closed contacts of push button CLK. Relay CLR may also be energized directly through the normally open contacts of push button CLK. Self-holding relay 7 2SHR is energized upon the closing of normally open contact 21 on relay CR, and is held closed by its own contact 11 until lines La and Ld are de-energized at the start switch, not shown. Reject relay 'RJR is controlled by a key or push-button switch RJK. Operation of this relay opens the holding circuit for all block relays and all digit relays by opening its contact 12 in conductor Cf. This relay also opens or disconects the energizing circuit for feed control relay FCR and feed control solenoid FCS from the conductor H by opening contact 11a and connects this energizing circuit directly to line con ductor Lc by closing its contact 11b.

Operation of the system Upon closing of the start switch, not shown, supply lines Lc and Ld are energized, and supply lines La and Lb also are energized through a suitable step-down transformer (not shown). Relay l-ASR is energized through normally closed switch ASRK, and this relay opens the energizing circuit for relay 2ASR at its contact 11 and closes the contact 21 in the energizing circuit for block relay 9-BR. Upon pressing a selector key, such as that represented by push-button 0, switch ASRK is first opened through connection K, and then the circuit to block relay O-BR is closed by the push-button switch. Relay l-ASR remains energized through the contact 25 of relay Z-ASR. Operation of block relay (i-BR closes a holding circuit for the relay at its contact 11, and closes the energizing circuit for alternating relay AR at its contact 12. This relay also closes the switch contacts 21, 22, 23, 24 and 13 which prepare circuits for energizing one of the devices M in the top horizontal row or group,

Operational of alternating relay AR prepares the cir cuit for energizing relay 2ASR at contact 11b, but [1115 relay is not energized until switch ASRK is again closed by releasing the push-button 0.

When the 0 key is released and returns to its normal position, the push-button contacts first open and then switch ASRK is released to return to close its contacts, thus completing the circuit through contacts Alt-11b to relay 2ASR, which relay opens contacts 2ASR-25, thus de-energizing relay 1ASR which in turn allows contacts 1-ASR-11 to return to closed position to complete a holding circuit through relay 2ASR. This latter relay 2ASR when energized closes its contacts 11b, 13b, 15b,- 22b and 24b to connect the digit relays 0-DR to 8DR, to the corresponding push-button switches 0, 2, 4, 6 and 3 respectively. In the meanwhile, the O-BR relay remains energized by reason of its holding circuit through switch 0BR11 so that all contacts of the 0-BR relay remain closed and prepare circuits through the first row of gate solenoids M having their first digital representation as 0.

' Upon depression of the second key which for example may also be 0, the switch ASRK first opens, and further travel of the 0 key in the same direction closes its contacts and completes the circuit through switch 2ASR11b to the tt-DR digit=r'elay, which is now energized to close its contacts 11, 12 and 21 and open its contact 22. Relay 0-DR remains energized by a selfholding circuitthrough switch tt-DR-ll. Switch GDR- 21 is now closed, thuscornpleting a circuit from this point through tt-BR-ZJ. which remained closed by the operation of the self-holding circuit for relay G-BR, to the gate solenoid designated 06 which operates to open the O0 gate, The contacts DR-22 open at this time, breaking the circuit to the alternating relay coil AR which upon de-energization allows its contacts to return to original position as shown. The contacts 0-DR-12 close and complete the circuit through the switch RJR-ll and switch -BR-12 to the feed control relay FCR and feed control solenoid FCS, through contacts FCR-11. The feed control solenoid FCS receives only a momentary pulse to trip a clutch, hereinafter referred to. The feed control relay FCR is energized at the same time as the feed control solenoid FCS and opens contacts FCR-11 to break the circuit to FCS. However, contacts FCR-11 must not break before the feed control solenoid has had sufiicient time to trip the clutch. The delaying action for the FCR1lcontacts may be obtained in a conventional manner by providing additional tension on the armature through use of stiffened contact blades or an armature return spring.

When the 0 key orbutton is released for the second time, and as it returns to its normal position, the pushbutton contacts first open and further movement to its released position closes switch ASRK which completes the circuit through the contacts of AR-lla to the 1-ASR relay which thereupon is energized and opens contacts 1ASR11 and breaking the holding circuit to the 2-ASR relay. When this latter relay is de-energized the contacts 2-ASR-25 move to closed position thus completing the holding circuitto the 1ASR relay. Relay 1-ASR is now energized and relay 2ASR is de-energized, and the contacts controlled thereby have changed the keyboard or push-button circuits from the digit relays back to the block relays. The 1-ASR and 2-ASR relays are now in position to begin another cycle by the depression of any key. i s

Thus it is seen that the first full depression of a key or push-button energizes one of the blockv relays designated 0- to 9-BR to close all the switches in a horizontal row corresponding to the block relay energized,

to prepare a circuit through the devices M. The second i depression of the same key, or depression of any other key of even number, energizes the corresponding digit relay DR which closes a corresponding one ofthe switches DR-Zl to complete an energizing circuit through a selected device M. 'As shown in FIG. 7 of US. Patent No. 2,707,569, each gate solenoid, which is designated 19 in the patent, would be connected as a device M herein and would operate to open a gate which is normally in a position to close the'opening in a chute leading to a bin. f

Also mounted on the keyboard for manual operation is a clearingkey represented by the push-button switch CLK which when depressed operates to energize the clearing relay CLR. Upon such energization, relay CLR opens normally closed contacts CLR11 to. break the common circuit C) that feeds all the self-holding contacts of all the digit relays 0 DR to'8-DR and all the block relays 0-BR to 9-BR respectively. This de-energizes these relays to allow the contacts controlled thereby to return to their unoperated positions so that any gate solenoid previously energized is now de-energized and releases a gate, as shown in Patent No. 2,707,569, to return to closed position. Upon release of the clearing key, relay CLR is de-energized to again close the contacts CLR-11 and so the circuits are now in position to initiate another cycle of operation to select another gate solenoid for energization.

During the cycle of operation of the circuit when the first key is depressed and released the cancel relay CR remains energized. t I

The cancel relay CR is energized through the full wave rectifier as shownin the drawing and contacts FCR-41 and FCR-22 of the feed control relay FCR. A capacitor C formedof one or more condensers is connected in parallel with the cancel relay coil and provides a time delay in the pick-up and release. of the, relay; a variable re scribed above.

tacts Z-SHR-ll of which completes the self-holding circuit of the relay. At this time the cancel relay contacts CR-ll are broken to de-energize the clearing relay CLR, and contacts CLR-21 are remade. When the second key is depressed to its full position the feed-control relay FCR is energized asdescribed above, which in turn openscontacts, FCR-21 and FCR-22 to break the circuit to the cancel relay CR. Contacts CR- ll therefore close and contacts CR-Zl open. Closure of contacts CR-11 completes a circuit through the clearing relay CLR as de- Contacts CR-ll are in parallel with the clearing keyboard contacts CLK and energize relay CLR. With the clearing relay CLR energized contacts CLR-11 break one common circuit to all the block and digit relays BR and DR as previously described.

Contacts CLR-21 open the circuit through the relay 1-SHR after the latter is momen-tarily energized to close contacts 14HR-11 to short-circuit condenser C. and return it to zero charge awaiting a new cycle. Cont-acts CR-21 open, but have no effect on self-holding relay Z-SHR after the first cycle as it is parallel by contacts sistor-R, opens contacts CR-11 tobreak the circuit to the clearing relay CLR thus allowing con-tacts CLR-1 1 to reclose. This completes the common holding circuit to all the block and digit relay self-holding contacts. At this time all the circuits are in proper order to start another cycle of operation. f

In utilizing ,the double-digit selector systemwithlthe document feeding apparatus shown in my copending ap plication SerialNo. 686,745 referred to, the one-revolution clutch for moving the pick-up head to transfer the topmost document of a stack to a conveyor, is tripped by the feed control solenoid FCS upon theoperation of tended to select the odd-numbered double'digits 01 to 99 by adding five more devicesM to each group or horizontal row, and by providing five additional digit relays to control the devices in the five added columns under control of the odd-numbered push-buttons when relay 2-ASR is energized.

I claim:

1. A double-digit electrical selecting system comprising a plurality of normally open manually operated switches, a plurality of selectively energiza'ble electrical devices,

v one terminalofeach of said devices being connected together to one terminal of 'a power source, the other terminaldof each of said devicesbeing connected to one sistor R beingconnected in series with'the capacitor to vary the delay time ofthe relay. When'the cancel relay CR is energized, contacts CR-Zl complete an operating terminal of a normally open fblock switch respectively,

othenterminals connected together to form a plurality ofgseparate junctions, a normally open digit switch be- .tween each junctionandthe other terminal of thezpower source, means operated by a first closure of one of said manually operated switches to close one block switch in each group, and means operable upon a subsequent closure of one of the said manually operated switches to close a selected one of the digit switches to energize a predetermined one of the electrical devices.

2. A double-digit electrical selecting system in accordance with claim 1, and including further means operated upon opening of the subsequently closed manual switch, to open all the block switches and the digit switch to deenergize the predetermined electrical device.

3. A double-digit electrical selecting system in accordance with claim 2 in which the said further means includes time delay means initiated upon opening of the subsequently closed manual switch for opening all the block switches and the digit switch.

4. A double-digit relay selecting system including a plurality of normally open switches, a manually movable key for each switch to close same upon movement in one direction, a plurality of selectively energizable electrical devices, one terminal of each of said devices being connected together to one terminal of a power source, the other terminal of each of said devices being connected to one terminal of a normally open block switch respectively, selected groups of said block switches having their other terminals connected together to form a plu rality of separate junctions, a normally open digit switch between each junction and the other terminal of the power source, a first relay coil for each key-controlled switch to be independently energized by a first closure of a keycontrolled switch for closing one block switch in each group, a self-holding circuit for maintaining energization of said first relay coil upon a first opening of its keycontrolled switch, a second relay coil for each key-controlled switch to be independently energized by asubsequent closure of a key-controlled switch to close one digit switch, and canceling means for openingythe selfholding circuit of the first relay after the key-controlled switch is moved to open position after the subsequent closure thereof.

5. A double-digit relay selecting system in accordance with claim 4 and including a self-holding circuit for maintaining energization of the second relay coil upon the second opening of a key-controlled switch, the canceling means being operable to simultaneously open the circuit of the second relay coil, and adjustable time delay means for rendering the canceling means effective to open said self-holding circuit after the second opening of the keycontrolled switch.

6. A double-digit electrical selecting system comprising, a plurality of selectively energizable electrical devices,

one terminal of each of said devices being connected together to one terminal of a power source, the other terminal of each of said devices being connected to one terminal of a normally open block switch respectively, selected groups of said block switches having their other terminals connected together to form a plurality of separate junctions, a normally open digit switch between each junction and the other terminal of the power source, a double-digit relay selecting system including a plurality of normally open switches, a manually movable key for each switch to close same upon movement in one direction, a first relay coil for each key-controlled switch to be independently energized by a first closure of a keycontrolled switch for closing one block switch in each group, a self-holding circuit for maintaining energization of said first relay coil upon a first opening of its keycontrolled switch, a second relay coil for each key-controlled switch to be independently energized by a subsequent closure of a key-controlled switch to close one digit switch, a control switch common to all said keys for operation by any one of said keys, and circuit means operable by'said common switch upon operation of a key for rendering said key-controlled switches operative to control energization of said first and second relay coils alternately.

7. A double-digit electrical selecting system comprising, a plurality of selectively energizaole electrical devices, one terminal of each of said devices being connected to gether to one terminal of a power source, the other terminal of each of said devices being connected to one terminal of a normally open block switch respectively, selected groups of said block switches having their other terminals connected together to form a plurality of separate junctions, a normally open digit switch between each junction and the other terminal of the power source, a double-digit relay selecting system including a plurality of normally open switches, a manually movable key for each switch to close same upon movement in one direction, a first relay coil for each key-controlled switch to be independently energized by a first closure of a key-controlled switch for closing one block switch in each group, a self-holding circuit for maintaining energization of a first relay coil upon a first opening of its key-controlled switch, a second relay coil for each keycontrolled switch to be independently energized by a subsequent closure of a key'controlled switch to close one digit switch, and including a self-holding circuit for maintaining energization of the second relay coil upon the second opening of a key-controlled switch, a control switch common to all said keys for operation thereby, and circuit means operable by said common control switch upon operation of a key for rendering said key-controlled switches operative to control energization of said first and second relay coils alternately, canceling means operable upon return of the subsequently operated key switch to open the circuit of the second relay coil, and adjustable time delay means for rendering the canceling means effective to open said self-holding circuit after the second opening of the key-controlled switch.

8. A double-digit electrical selecting system comprising a plurality of electrical devices, each having a normally open energizing switch, said switches being arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, each column including a switch in each row, a first set of relays for operating the switches in said rows respectively, the switches of each column having their contacts connected to a common supply conductor individual for each column, a set of column switches for connecting the respective column supply conductors to a source of current, a second set of relays for controlling said column switches respectively, a set of manually operated control switches, one for each relay in said first set of relays, a transfer relay having contacts normally connecting said manual switches to control said first set of relays, and means controlled by the operation of any manual switch through a completeopcrating cycle to operate said transfer relay to connect the second set of relays for control by said manual switches on the next operation of a manual switch.

9. A double-digit selecting system according to claim 8 and including means controlled by the operation of any relay in the second 'set of relays to restore said transfer relay to its normal state.

10. A double-digit electrical selecting system comprising a plurality of electrical devices, each having a normally open energizing switch, said switches being arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, each column including a switch in each row, a first set of relays for operating the switches in said rows respectively, each relay having a self-closing holding circuit, the switches of each column having their contacts connected to a common supply conductor individual for each column, a set of column switches for connecting the respective column supply conductors to a source of current, a second set of relays for controlling said column switches respectively, a set of manually operated control switches, one for each relay in said first set of relays, a transfer relay having contacts normally connecting said manual switches to control said first set of'relays, and a second set of normally open contacts connecting said manual switches to control said second set of relays, means controlled by the operation of any relay in said first set of relays to saidtransfer relay, and means controlled by the operation of any relay in said second set of relays to restore said transfer relay to its normal state.

UNITED STATES PATENTS MacDonald Arp. 21, 1925 Gould Feb. 6, 1940 Farmer Mar. 17, 1942 Farmer Aug. 10, 1948 Law Sept.,23, 1952 Low May 1, 1956 Schultheis Nov. 6, 1956 

